| Abstract Detail
Developmental and Structural Section Zimmerman, Erin [1], Prenner, Gerhard [2], Bruneau, Anne [1]. Floral morphology of Apuleia leiocarpa (Caesalpinioideae: Cassieae), an unusual andromonoecious legume. Apuleia leiocarpa (Vogel) J. F. Macbr. is a South American tree species belonging to the caesalpinioid subfamily of the Leguminosae. Phylogenetic analyses have placed Apuleia into the Dialiinae s.l. clade, with which it shares numerous morphological similarities, including cymose inflorescences. The genus has also been reported to be andromonoecious, a trait not seen elsewhere in its clade, and only infrequently in the Caesalpinioideae. Scanning electron and light microscopy were used to investigate the floral morphology of A. leiocarpa. It was found that while hermaphrodite flowers produced a single carpel and two stamens, staminate flowers developed three stamens but showed no signs of any carpel development. The third stamen takes the place of the missing carpel within the bud as it grows. Inflorescences also appear to produce approximately four times as many staminate as hermaphrodite flowers. Both this high male to bisexual ratio and the early determination of gender seen in Apuleia are rare in the Caesalpinioideae, and suggest that andromonoecy developed in this genus as a means to increase pollen dispersal, rather than in response to resource limitations. Broader Impacts:
Log in to add this item to your schedule
1 - University of Montreal, Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, 4101 rue Sherbrooke est, Montreal, QC, H1X 2B2, Canada
2 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Jodrell Laboratory, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, Richmond, N/A, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom
Keywords:
Apuleia
Dialiinae
floral morphology
andromonoecy
trimery
Caesalpinioideae
Leguminosae.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 32
Location: Union D/Hyatt
Date: Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
Time: 11:30 AM
Number: 32005
Abstract ID:708 |
